Agreement reached to restore wetlands

Authorities say a Glynn County landowner has agreed to restore 700 acres of wetlands damaged in the construction of two-and-a-half miles of roads and ditches near the Georgia coast.

The Florida Times-Union reports road builder Wayne Hutcheson reached the agreement with several environmental organizations. The deal was approved Wednesday in federal court.

Bill Sapp, senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, said the roads and ditches interrupted the natural flow of freshwater and allowed saltwater to intrude near the small community of Sterling.

Under the agreement, Hutcheson will restore the natural flow of freshwater by breaching the roads and plugging some of the ditches. He also will be required to replant 5,000 to 6,000 native wetland trees, including cypress.

Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.